A former senior officer in the Rwanda Armed Forces, Colonel Ephrem Setako was yesterday transferred from The Netherlands to the Detention Facility of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha , Tanzania to face charges in connection with his alleged involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda .

Setako, 55, is charged with six counts of genocide, or alternatively complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity (murder and extermination), and violations of the Geneva Conventions.

The accused who was born in Nkuli Commune, Ruhengeri Prefecture is alleged to have planned, instigated, ordered and participated in killing of Tutsi civilians in Ruhengeri and Kigali-ville prefectures. He also allegedly distributed arms to members of the Rwanda Armed Forces, the Presidential Guard, the Interahamwe, the Amahindure (Civil Defence Forces), and other soldiers engaged in the killings.

Setako is alleged to have committed the crimes in concert with others including Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva, Joseph Nzirorera, Casmir Bizimungu, Colonel Augustin Bizimungu and Juvénal Kajelijeli, who are also facing charges before the Tribunal in Arusha.

The accused was arrested on 25 February 2004 in The Netherlands at the request of the Tribunal. His arrest brings to 69 the number of accused people who have been arrested by the Tribunal.